Foundation garment



y 7, 1 H. MA-YONNADE Ei- AL 2.199.442

FOUNDATI ON GARMENT Filed June 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mw ,m 077 E T N N R EL O by W, m e m mc y 7, 1940- h H. MAYQNNADE ET AL 2.199.442

FOUNDAT I 0N GARMENT Filed June 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wnwssszs INVENTQRS jfenr'beffe Ma onnqde Wd gaarles ,Hine

ATTORN Patented May 7, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 2.199.442 a... FOUNDATION GARMENT I Henriette Mayonnade and Charles W. Hine, New

Haven, Conn., assignors to I. Newman & Sons, Inc., New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application June 25, 1938, Serial bio. 215,901

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved foundation garment or corset structure, an object being to provide a garment of this character which is substantially elastic throughout with certain nonelastic zones to hold certain parts in proper functioning position.

Another object of the invention is to provide what may be termed an elastic corset with a brassiere front at the top and a non-stretchable zone therebeneath preventing pulling down or distorting of the brassiere structure when the garment is in use.

A further object, more specifically, is to provide an elastic corset with a front panel elastic veru tically but not circumferentially; associated with means for presenting a non-elastic zone at the upper end whereby the front of the corset will not move downwardly when the corset is in use.

In the accompanying drawings-- Fig. l is a perspective view of a foundation garment disclosing an embodiment of the invention, the same being shownon a figure, and illustrating how the parts will look when in use; Fig. 2 is a front view of the garment shown in Fig- 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the garment;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the garment shown in Fig. 3, looking toward the front; V I o Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through Fig. 1 approximately on the line 55, the same being on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view through Fig. 4 approximately on the line 6-6; v Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention to that shown in Fig. l; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view through Fig. '7 approximately on the line 8-8;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing another modified formof the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, l indicates the body of the corset and 2 the brassire structure which really consists of f a pair of pockets. To the upper or highest point of the pockets is connected shoulder straps of any desired structure. These straps are connected to auxiliary straps 5 and 6 at the rear, said auxiliary straps being V-shaped so as to distribute the strain between the respective side panels I and 8 and the rear panel 9. The brassire structure 2 may be made from lace or other suitable substantially non-elastic material. The

side panels I and 8 are made from material which may be woven or knit but which is stretchable in all directions. Material of this kind -is sold on the market under the name of "Powers fabric and is strong, light and porous so that there is ample ventilation to the sides of the garment and yet ample strength provided for constricting or molding action. These panels extend from the top to the bottom of the garment and are comparatively narrow but fit over the sides and over most of the hip portions, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to present a molding and yielding structure to round out the figure.- 10

At the rear there is provided the panel 8 which is stretchable longitudinally but not circumferentially. This panel flares from the top to the bottom and at the bottom extends entirely across the back and over part of the hips. At the front 15 there is provided a front panel I!) preferably-of the same material as the panel 9 and stretchable longitudinally of the garment but not circumfer\ entially. The front panel is the reverse of e the rear panel and is much narrower. The front panel flares from the bottom to the top and at the top is provided with arc-shaped edges II and I2 coacting with the shape of the lower edge of the brassiere structure 2. Suitable seams connect the brassiere structure to the top edges H a and I2 of the front panel Ill. Seams l3 and-1 I act to connect the front panel ill to the side panels I and 8 and also to the side portions of the brassiere structure 2. The brassiere structure 2 and the panel In form what may be termed the 30 front section. Suitable hose supporters I! are connected to the lower end of the garment in the usual manner and assist in holding the garment down as well as support the hose of the person wearing the garment. If the front'panel were 35 allowed to stretch for its full length the action thereof would pull onthe brassiere structure 2 and would put considerable pressure .on the breasts of the person wearing the garment and tend to pull the front downward to an undesirw able extent. To prevent this there is provided a zone l6 at the upper portion of the panel I. which occupies about one-third of the'panel and thereby prevents the upper third from stretching. p a

As illustrated in the preferred form there is provided a non-stretchable fabric auxiliary panel 10' which may be stitched to the panel III by lines of stitching II which connect the panel It) with the brassiere 2. Also the auxiliary panel 50 action of this zone.

that there will be no downward pull on the extend through both panels and thereby prevent the stretching of the outer or front panel Ill.

It will be understood that the panel Ill could I This is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. When the lines of stitching l9 are used the ornamental stitching I8 is preferably omitted though it could be used if desired. By these stitchings or othermeans the two panels are connected together so that the outer panel will present a desired pleasing appearance while the inner or auxiliary panel will prevent stretching and thereby form a nonstretchable zone at the front which is pressed firmly against the body of the wearer immediately below the breasts by the elastic side panels 1 and 8. By reason of this construction there is provided a clamping band immediately below the breasts which extends sometimes to the waistline and sometimes slightly below the waistline, which;

will not shift upwardly or downwardly as the front panel stretches and then moves back to its former position. When the person wearing the garment bends the body forwardly the lower part of the panel I0 will be released and will move up slightly but when the person straightens up the hose supporters and the panels I and 8 will function to move or stretch the front panel In downwardly again until the parts assume substantially the position shown in Fig. 7. This up-and-down movement of the front panel ID by reason of its ability to stretch freely will not be communicated to the zone l6 because of the non-stretchable The result of this action is breast pockets.

From Figs. 2 and 4 it will be observed that the front or facing side edges of the side panels I and 8 are curved from the bottom to the top presenting a decided flaring structure which is sufficiently far apart at the top to accommodate the brassiere structure 2.

If desired the auxiliary panel ID, as shown in Fig. 8, could be arranged exteriorly of the panel I0 though ordinarily it is arranged interiorly thereof. As illustrated in Fig. 9, the panel I0" is the same shape and size as panel l0 and made of non-stretchable material but in this form of .the invention panel I0 is cut off and the lower edge of panel II" is secured to the upper end of panel III by suitable lines of stitching 20. The

outside of the panel I." is preferably as near the some color and general appearance as the outer surface of the panel l0 though the joining at seam 20 is visible. With this form of non-elastic zone there is no need for seams similar to seam or stitching ll. In this form and in all the other forms of the invention there is provided a zone which is non-stretchable in any direction immediately below the brassiere structure at the front of the garment. As the various panels are stitched to the side panels I and 8, the nonelastic panels are held in close contact with the body and under some slight tension or pressure whereby movement cannot be transmitted from the lower part of panel I!) to the brassire structime 2, whereby the desired effect of a practically entire elastic corset is presented but one which will not pull down on the breast pockets.

the front panel, a non-elastic panel positioned interiorly of the front panel and extending from the top edge of the front panel downwardly to near the waistline of the garment and from one side of the front panel to the other, lines of stitching securing said non-elastic panel to the front panel at the top and side edges thereof for producing a non-elastic zone in said front panel at the top portion thereof, and an inverted V-shaped line of stitching connecting the nonelastic panel above the lower edge thereof to the front panel, with the apex of the v being located at a central point adjacent the upper end of the panel while the free ends of the legs of the V being disposed adjacent the lower end and sides of the non-elastic panel to provide a centrally disposed triangular portion of the nonelastic panel unconnected with the front panel so that where a downward pull is exerted on the elastic front panel the lines of force will be directed substantially towards the gradually receding legs of the V-shaped stitching and towards the connected side edges of the inelastic panel and thus reduce the pull on the brassiere structure.

HENRIET'IE MAYONNADE. CHARLES W. HINE. 

